From Focus World and director/star James Franco, a film about visionary poet Hart Crane, who lived a life of beauty, passion, and tragedy. Hart Crane was one of the most important voices in American poetry - but lived a life with as much… MoreFrom Focus World and director/star James Franco, a film about visionary poet Hart Crane, who lived a life of beauty, passion, and tragedy. Hart Crane was one of the most important voices in American poetry - but lived a life with as much turmoil as passion. From his early life to his journeys from New York, Cuba, and Paris, Crane's story and that of the loves that defined him is told with imaginative empathy, and with a no holds barred performance - in a film as introspective, rebellious, heartbreaking, and honest as Crane himself. -- (C) Focus World

This look at the brief life of troubled American poet Hart Crane is a real one-man show as its star James Franco also serves as writer, director, producer, and… MoreThis look at the brief life of troubled American poet Hart Crane is a real one-man show as its star James Franco also serves as writer, director, producer, and editor. While this isn't his debut as a director, it is probably his most well-known effort behind the camera.
It's also a colossal failure, too. It's not so much of a biopic, or even a proper film as it is pretentious, self-indulgent wankery. I'm okay with artsy, experimental indie works, but Franco tries way too hard here. It's rambling, overlong, boring, and really doesn't add up to anything.
I had read a fair amount of Crane's poems and letters before seeing this, and, while I didn't hate his work, I can't say I'm a fan. That's not to say that some of his stuff isn't enjoyable, I just think he's overrated, despite his story being worthy of cinematic treatment...but not like this.
The film has pointless title cards that serve only to spell everything out, and it's divided up into several episodic vignettes that covers periods of Crane's life, but really just sort of exist instead of actually providing a narrative about the man or his work.
It's obvious that Franco loves Crane, and this was a real passion project for him, but I have no idea what he was thinking when making this. It's sloppy, meandering, slow, jumbled, and serves as a good example of how not every film that's a low budget artsy indie is always better than the big budget mainstream studio affairs.

Matt Goodman

Hart Crane: We all know life is a dance of death, but we can still make something of it.
The Broken Tower had a noble premise surrounding the short life of… MoreHart Crane: We all know life is a dance of death, but we can still make something of it.
The Broken Tower had a noble premise surrounding the short life of American poet Hart Crane, who is played by James Franco. Not only that, the film was written and directed by Franco, and while that may sound worthy on paper, The Broken Tower fails to work on nearly any level. There are a handful of risqué scenes that furthermore adds to the longstanding rumor of James Franco's sexual orientation, and he delivers a fifteen minute long poetry monologue. Yawn. If that is not terrible enough, the film is shot as a "docudrama" and features some of the most scattershot editing ever to be featured on film; all presented in black and white. The Broken Tower is the first 2012-released film I have seen, and will most likely make it on my worst of the year list.
Read the whole review at www.creedsdelight.com

William Dunmyer

I'm always amazed when films made about intellectuals have little to no intellectual content. The starkness of that contrast startles and befuddles me… MoreI'm always amazed when films made about intellectuals have little to no intellectual content. The starkness of that contrast startles and befuddles me every time. It also stuns me how often this happens. The latest example is James Franco's "The Broken Tower," which focuses on avant-garde American poet Hart Crane, who killed himself in 1932 at the age of 32.
Franco clearly has authentic interest in Crane, and he appears to be getting a serious education at a range of institutions, including Yale University, where as far as I know he is currently pursuing a PhD in Literature. But in this film project, only a shallow level of interest shows. Franco is drawn to Crane and his poetry, but here he doesn't have anything significant to say about Crane or his poetry.
There are superficial depictions of Crane struggling to get money so he could devote himself to writing poetry and many long passages where Franco reads Crane's poetry. The recitation is not particularly engaging, by the way. And since all the poetry has already been published, I'm not sure what the benefit is of having so much of it read to us. We already can read the poetry, Mr. Franco. We're not watching your movie to find Crane's poetry, since we can already get that in a library. Film as audiobook -- not good.
There are bold depictions of Crane's sex life here, including one particularly daring scene with Franco portraying Crane performing oral sex on a man. Let's just say that it's cinema verite. Franco goes down on it with real gusto and in close-up. Not many straight-male movie stars would do this. Franco appears to have forceful opposition to homophobia, which is great to see. But this is more a moral gesture than an artistic one. "The Broken Tower" may have moral force, but it has almost nothing artistic to say.
The film is also rather flat-footed. Franco demonstrates really no directorial talent here. Almost every scene feels awkward and phony. Franco's acting is also skin-deep here. A noble effort, but "The Broken Tower" is ultimately a big disappointment.

Walter M.

With the pretentious drivel of a biopic of poet Hart Crane(James Franco), "The Broken Tower," Franco, as writer and director, confirms what everybody… MoreWith the pretentious drivel of a biopic of poet Hart Crane(James Franco), "The Broken Tower," Franco, as writer and director, confirms what everybody who hates poetry thinks they know and why poetry slams were invented. And somehow also manages to make self-destructive behavior just as dull. Specifically, we find out that Crane had parents(Richard Abate & Betsy Franco). Otherwise, it may just seem like James Franco is about the only actor in the movie which is either a sign of an extremely low budget or extreme narcissism.(Admittedly, Michael Shannon is around here somewhere but I'm also not sure who he was supposed to be.) As I am reminded that no man is an island, I was also wondering who might have influenced Crane's poetry, not just that his advertising job made him miserable. But Franco does get points for the blow job.

Pedro Holanda

<i>The Truth is Indecent.</i>
<b>Fail</b>
This is James Franco's failed attempt in directing, producing and acting.
In this… More<i>The Truth is Indecent.</i>
<b>Fail</b>
This is James Franco's failed attempt in directing, producing and acting.
In this slow endless film, Franco tries to highlight the melancholic life of American poet Hart Crane.
Franco tries his best to make an art film, but ends up creating a piece of <b> garbage </b>. His attempt to use black and white, handheld cameras, and a slow picture is futile. He ends up creating a horrible film that instead of making you admire Hart Crane, you end up despising him. Avoid this movie
<u>Hart Crane</u> : <i>"From pit to crucifix</i>

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